Tubular lock



F. K. HEYER TUBULAR LOCK May 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Filed April 6, 1950 R O T N E V N ATTORNEY F. K. HEYYER TUBULAR LOCK May 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1950 IAV INVENTOR EM fi gy BY fli l w ATTORNEY United States Patent TUBULAR LOCK Frederic K. Heyer, Stamford, Conn., assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 6, 1950, Serial No. 154,319

13 Claims. (Cl. 70--146) This invention relates to tubular locks, and more particularly to a novel and improved construction of a lock of this type having means in the inside knob for operating a device that dogs the outside knob against rotation.

In my invention, as in prior art structures, a push button is located in a central bore of the inside knob for operating a dog that locks the outside knob against rotation, and a key plug is mounted in the central bore of the outside knob and has a cam for releasing the outside knob for rotation.

As a feature of my invention, the means operated by the push button and the key plug are mounted in aligned relation and cooperate with one another to form an efficient, positive acting, unique construction for locking and unlocking the outside knob.

It is of prime importance that a door lock be adjustable to varying door thicknesses. In prior art locks utilizing inner and outer spindles which are independently rotatable and which operate inside and outside rollbacks, it has been difficult to obtain any degree of lateral adjustability of the spindles without interfering with the proper operation of the rollbacks. A feature of my invention resides in obviating this difiiculty by providing rollbacks adapted for operation by independently rotatable spindles elfective in different door thicknesses.

A further feature of the invention resides in the utilization of means for moving the dog into and out of dogging position, the said means allowing the utilization of solid spindles secured to the knobs. Thus, as a more particular feature of this part of the invention, I utilize a push button operated structure that is in sliding relation to the spindle secured to the inside knob, and is so arranged as to be effective when moved in one direction to actuate the dog into position and locking the outside rollback. Similarly, the outside knob is equipped with means actuated by a key plug and slidable relatively to the spindle secured to the said outside knob and having a part thereof adapted to press against that end of the locking dog opposite the end contacted by the push button operated structure. For the spindles in this construction, I prefer to utilize independently rotatable spindle sections that together form what I term a split spindle. By thus making possible the use of solid spindles or spindle sections, while still employing a push button and a centrally positioned key plug, 1 meet the requirements of the commercial art for a push button operated locking device and a centrally actuated key releasing mechanism for the said locking device.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures 2,743,600 Patented May 1, 1956 for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to be granted me shall be of sufficient breadth to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a tubular lock embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of certain of the parts of Fig. 1 in another operative position; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections taken respectively, along lines 2-4, 55, and 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a perspective exploded view, partly in section, showing the inside and outside rollbacks and the push piece of my invention.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, and especially Fig. l, the lock of my invention is shown in a door D. The door D has a cylindrical bore 10 entering from one edge thereof, and a tranverse bore 12 extending from one face of the door to the other, and communicating with bore 10. The latch bolt of my lock is indicated generally by numerall l and is reciprocably mounted in a casing 11 housed in bore 10. Rotatably mounted in the casing 11 are inside rollback 16 and outside rollback 18 having rectangular bores 17 and 19 best shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Each rollback is rotated independently of the other by sections 24, 27 of a split spindle referred to generally by the numeral 2i). Preferably the inside rollback is rotated by spindle section 24 andthe outside rollback by spindle section 27. On the free end of spindle section 24 is the inner knob 22, while on the free end of spindle section 27 is the outer knob 26. The inner and outer spindle sections are secured together against endwise separation through means that are old in split spindles, as shown for example in Patent No. 2,268,974 to Voight, these means allowing the spindle sections to rotate relatively to one another.

The latch bolt assembly of my luck has a latch bolt referred to generally by the numeral 14. Latch bolt 14 has a bolt head 28, a rearwardly extending shaft portion 30, a shoulder 32, and a reduced end portion 34. Mounted in casing 11 is a push piece guide casing 36 formed with an end Wall 37 having an opening 38 therein. A part of the reduced end portion 34 of the bolt projects through opening 38 ,in push piece guide casing 36 for guiding the bolt. A preferably U-shaped yoke 40, as best seen in Fig. 3, has its closed end or bight 42 fitting over shoulder 32 of latch bolt 14. Parallel legs 44 of the yoke 40 extend rearwardly at each side of the latch bolt casing 11, and have ears 46 cooperable with portions of the outside rollback and the inside rollback. Thus, when these rollbacks are rotated, they serve to retract the bolt through said ears.

A spring 48 bears at one end against closed end 42 of the yoke 40, and its other end against the wall 37 of push piece guide casing 36. Surrounding the reduced end portion 34 of the bolt 14 is a spring 52, one end of which bears against the shoulder 32, and the other end of which bears against the wall 37 of push piece guide casing 36. Light spring 52 serves to project the bolt I l into its position of Fig. 1. Therefore, it will be readily appreciated that the rotation of either the inside or the outside rollback will retract the yoke 40 against the pressure of spring 48 and that the yoke will act to retract the latch bolt through its cooperation with the shouldered portion 32 of the latch bolt assembly. This retraction will take place against the additional pressure of spring 52. T has, the latch bolt is projected by a light spring for easy latching purposes, while knob retraction of the latch bolt is opposed by a relatively heavier spring pressure.

Slidably mounted in push piece guide casing 36 is a locking push piece 54 as best seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 7. Push piece 54 has a locking lug 56 that enters a slot 58 of the outside rollback as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It is obvious that when push piece 54 is in its position of Fig. 1, the locking lug 56 will be in slot 58 of the outside rollback, and will effectively lock that rollback against rotation. At the same time, a camming surface 60 located above the locking lug 56 on locking push piece 54, is cooperable with opposed camming surfaces 62 formed on the inside rollback, that rollback being at all times free to rotate. Therefore, when locking push piece 54 is in locking relation to the outside rollback, the inside rollback may be rotated, and one of its (ramming surfaces 62 will then coact with the camming surface 6%) to move the push piece from the locked position of Fig. l to the unlocked position of Fig. 2. In my lock, it is also possible to move the push piece 54 from its locked to its unlocked position by means of the camming action of reduced end portion 34 of latch bolt 14 against an angular surface 31 of push piece 54 when the latch bolt moves rearwardly, all of which is clearly apparent from Fig. 1. Of course, by eliminating surface 31, the unlocking function of latch bolt 14 is also eliminated.

As shown in Fig. 4, locking push piece 54 is provided 7 with a friction spring 64 that is receivable in a groove 66 of casing 36 when the outside rollback is locked against rotation, and in groove 68 of casing 36 when the outside rollback is unlocked, thereby preventing push piece 54 from being accidentally moved out of its desired position.

Referring now to the knob mechanism, the inner knob 22 has a shank 70. Centrally located within knob 22 is a bore 72, and centrally located within shank 70 is a rectangular opening 76 with an extension 78. The inner spindle section 24 is of rectangular cross section and is mounted in opening 76. A push button 80 is movable within bore 72 and is fixed to one end of push button stem 82. Push button stem 82 has a main stem part 84 lying against spindle section 24, and an enlarged push surface 36 transverse to spindle section 24 and slidable thereabout. The push button stem is thus slidable in the extension 78 of shank 7t and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner spindle section 24, and when actuated by push button 30, its push surface 86 engages projection 53 of push piece 54 to move. the locking lug 56 into locking engagement with the outside rollback.

The outer knob 26 has a central bore in which is mounted a conventional key plug on which is formed a cam 88 or some other actuating part. Outer knob 26 has a shank 90v and shank 90 has a centrally located rectangular opening 92 with an extension 94 therein as best seen in Fig. 1. Outer spindle section 27, also of rectangular cross-section, may be fixed in said rectangular opening 92 by means of a locating pin 96 inserted in locating hole 98 in shank 90. Slidable in extension 94, and longitudinally of the outer spindle section 27, is a push piece actuator 100 Y which is similar to push button stem 82. Push piece actuator 1.00 has a main stem part 102 movable along the outer spindle section 27, and at one end thereof an enlarged push surface 104 transverse to the main stem part 102 and having a rectangular opening 106 for the reception of the outer spindle section 27. At the other end of push piece actuator 100 is a depending upturned portion 108 that is movable by cam 88. Thus, when cam 88 is rotated by the key plug, push surface 104 engages projection on push piece 54, thereby moving the push piece and carrying locking lug 56 out of locking engagement with the outside rollback.

It is obvious from the description presented thus far, that the push button stem operable by the push button in the inner knob, and the push piece actuator operable by the key plug in the outer knob, are mounted in aligned, confronting relationship and cooperate with one another to form a convenient, unique and positive-acting structure e in the door-locking art.

Moreover, my structure thus described. inherently provides for the ready adjustment. of the. lock. parts for, variations in thicknesses. of doors. Accordingly. the outside. knobv 26 is fixed: to the outside spindle section by means of locating pin 96 secured in locating hole 98 in the shank of the outside knob. The inside knob, however, is slidable along the inner spindle section and releasably secured to spindle section 24 by means of a set screw 114 that can be adjusted for various door thicknesses by being threaded through hole 112 in the slidable inner knob, and bearing against any point within a limited portion of a side of inner spindle section 24.

The inside and outside rollbacks are so designed that when assembled in a juxtaposed, operating relation, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is formed between them an enlarged cavity 116, 118. This cavity coacts with neck portions 117, 119 on the abutting ends of the spindle sections to allow for considerable longitudinal movement of the spindle sections 24, 27 relatively to the rollbacks, as may be necessary to adjust the spindle 20 relatively to the rollbacks for varying thicknesses of doors.

Referring first to Fig. 2, it will be noted that spindle section 27 is positioned with its square portion in full alignment with the square bore 19 of the rollback 18. It is obvious now that the spindle section 27 will be efiective to rotate the rollback 18. At the same time, the spindle section 24 lies Within the square bore 17 of the rollback 16 and is adapted to rotate that rollback only. It will be noted, however, that the square section of spindle section 24 extends into that portion of the cavity between the two rollbacks defined by reference numerals 116, 118 in Fig. 2, and that if this cavity were not present, the spindle section 24 would therefore be locked for rotation, not only to the rollback 16, but also to the rollback 18. In other words, through the utilization of the two neck portions 117, 11%, and the cavity 116, 113, it is possible to move the spindle section 24 relatively to the rollbacks, as indicated in Fig. 2, while simultaneously allowing for relative movement between the rollbacks upon relative rotation of the spindle sections 24, 27

In Fig. 1, because the door is thinner than the door for which the mechanism is adjusted in Fig. 2, the spindle section 27 has now moved completely beyond rollback 13 and has entered the cavity portion 116. Simultaneously, the spindle section 24 has moved outwardly relatively to the rollback 16 but yet remains in driving relation to the rollback 16. It is apparent that again through the utilization of the neck portions 117, 119, the rollback 18 is rotatable integrally with spindle section 2.7, while rollback 16 is rotatable integrally with spindle section 24, and that the two rollbacks are rotatable relatively to one another by the spindle sections 24 and 27. In other words, through having the neck portions 117, 119, and the cavity 116, 113 between the two rollbacks, it is possible to provide that degree of adjustment for different thicknesses of doors apparent from a comparison of Figs. 2 and 1. It is further apparent that this adjustment may be obtained even though the outside knob is fastened at all times to the swiveling spindle assembly 24, 27 as is absolutely essential if the outside knob is to be held, in place by the spindle sections. Thus, through securing the inner knob to the spindle section 24, the outside knob and spindle section 2'7 are retained relatively to the lock and are prevented from endwise separation therefrom as by force. I believe that the considerable merit of the particular construction, functioning to provide for the independent rotation of the two rollbacks in varying positions of the spindle sections, while serving to retain the outside knob in place, will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I now claim:

1. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, a knob on each of said spindle, portions, inside andv outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece for locking the. outside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by said inner knob,

means slidable relatively to the outside of said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push bottom is depressed for moving said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, a cam in said outside knob, a push piece actuator mounted exteriorly of said outer spindle portion and movable upon actuation of said cam and slidable relatively to the outer peripheral surface of said outer spindle portion for engaging said push piece, and means for actuating said cam so that said push piece may be pushed out of said predetermined position and out of locking engagement with said outside rollback.

2. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, a knob mounted on each of said spindle portions, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece for locking theoutside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by said inner knob, means slidable relatively to said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push button is depressed for moving said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, a cam in said outer knob, a push piece actuator movable upon actuation of said cam, an end part on said push piece actuator being transverse to said outer spindle portion and slidable in aligned relation to said slidable means on the outside surface of said outer spindle portion for engaging said push piece, and means for actuating said cam so that said push piece may be pushed out of said predetermined position and out of locking engagement with said outside rollback.

3. in a lock of the class described, a spindle, a hollow knob, a shank on said knob having a spindle opening receiving said spindle and having an enlarged extension of said opening, a push button movable on said hollow knob, a stem movable with said push button and having an end surface transverse thereof, said stem being slidable in said enlarged extension of the shank opening outwardly of said spindle, and means through which the shank of said knob coacts with said spindle to secure said knob to said spindle while permitting said stem to slide on the outer surface of said spindle.

4. In a lock, a knob having a central bore, a shank on said knob having a spindle opening and having an enlarged extension of said opening, a stem, an end part on said stem having a surface transverse to said stem, a key plug in said central bore having a stern-actuating earn, a spindle in said shank opening and projecting through an aperture in the end part of said stern, said stem being slidable in said enlarged extension in juxtaposed outward relation to said spindle, and a dogging member moved by said transverse surface upon sliding movement of said stem.

5. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, inner and outer knobs having shanks mounted on each of said spindle portions, means fixing said outer knob on said outer spindle portion, said inner knob being adjustable longitudinally upon said inner spindle portion, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece for locking the outside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by said inner knob, a stem having an end surface transverse to said inner spindle portion, said stem being slidable relatively to the outer peripheral surface of said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push button is depressed for engaging said push piece through said end surface to move said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, a cam in said outer knob, a push piece actuator movable upon actuation of said cam having an end surface slidable relatively to the outer peripheral surface of said outer spindle portion in alignment with said stem and engageable with said push piece, and means for actuating said cam so that said push piece may be pushed out of said predetermined position and out of locking engagement with said outside rollback.

6. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, inner and outer knobs having shanks mounted on each of said spindle portions, means fixing said outer knob on said outer spindle portion, said inner knob being adjustable upon said inner spindle portion, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a. push piece for locking the outside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by said inner knob, means slidable relatively to the outside of said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push button is depressed for moving said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, means slidable on the outer peripheral surface of said outer spindle portion in alignment with. said first-mentioned slidable means whereby said push piece may be pushed out of said predetermined position and out of locking engagement with said outside rollback, a set screw threaded through said shank portion of said adjustable inner knob and adapted to bear against said inner spindle portion at any desired point along a surface of the latter for linearly adjusting the relative distance between the inner and outer knobs, and means securing said inner and outer spindle portions against endwise separation.

'7. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing,

a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, a knob mounted on each of said spindle portions, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece for locking the outside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by the inner knob, means slidable relatively to the outside of said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push button is depressed for moving said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, and means slidable on the outside surface of said outside spindle portion in alignment with said first-mentioned slidable means for moving said push piece out of locking engagement with said rollback.

8. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, a knob mounted on each of said spindleportious, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece for locking the outside rollback when pushed into a predetermined position, a push button carried by the inner knob, means slidable on the outside peripheral surface of said inner spindle portion and movable with said push button when said push button is depressed for moving said push piece into locking engagement with said outside rollback, means slidable relatively to said outside spindle portion in alignment with said iirstmentioned slidable means for moving said push piece to release said outer rollback and spindle, and key operated lock means carried by said outside knob for moving said slidable means.

9. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece which locks the outside rollback when pushed into one predetermined position, and unlocks said outside rollback when pushed out of said predetermined position, means slidable relatively to the outside of the inner spindle portion for pushing said push piece into said predetermined position, and means slidable on the outer peripheral surface of the outer spindle portion in alignment with said first-mentioned slidable means for pushing said push piece out of said predetermined position.

10. In a, tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt movable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions, a knob mounted on each of said spindle portions, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece movable in said casing into and out of a position locking said outside rollback, an inner stern slidable in the inner knob, a push button for pressing said inner stern in a direction axially of said inner spindle portion, an end part on said stern moving said push piece to locking position when said push button is pressed, an outer stem slidable in the outer knob in a direction axially of said outer spindle portion, an end part on said outer stem in opposed relation to said end part on said inner stem for moving said push piece, and a key plug in said outer knob for sliding said outer stem to move said push piece out of locking position.

11. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch bolt movable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions, a knob mounted on each of said spindle por tions, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and actuated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece movable in said 1 easing into and out of a position locking said outside rollback, an inner stem slidable in the inner knob and having a part lying in juxtaposed relation to an outer surface of the inner spindle portion, a push button for pressing said inner stern in a direction axially of said inner spindle portion, and end part on said stern moving said push piece to locking position when said push button is pressed, an outer stem slidable in the outer knob in a direction axially of said outer spindle portion and having a part lying in juxtaposed relation to an outer surface of the outer spindle portion, an end part on said outer stern in opposed relation to said end part on said inner stern for moving said push piece, and a key plug in said outer knob for sliding said outer stem to move said push piece out of locking position.

12. In a tubular lock of the class described, a casing, a latch boit movable in said casing, inner and outer spindle portions aligned with each other, a knob for rotating each of said spindle portions, inside and outside rollbacks mounted in said casing and rotated by said inner and outer spindle portions for retracting said latch bolt, a push piece movable in said easing into and out of a position locking said outside rollback, an inner stern slidable in the inner knob, a push button for pressing said stem in a direction along the spindle axis, an end part on said stem through which said stern when pressed by said push button moves said push piece, a surface on said end part extending at least partly around the spindle axis to allow said stem to move said push piece to locking position when said inner spindle is in different rotated positions relatively to said casing, an outer stem slidable in the outer knob, a key plug for sliding said outer stern in a direction along the spindle axis, an end part on said outer stem through which said outer stem when moved by said key plug moves said push piece, and a surface on said end part of said outer stem in opposed relation to said end part on said inner stem and extending at least partly around the spindle axis to allow said outer stem to move said push piece out of locking position when said outer spindle portion is in diiferent rotated positions relatively to said casing.

13. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a latchbolt slidable in said casing, inner and outer rollbacks rotat'able in said casing for retracting said latchbolt, an outer spindle portion keyed to said outer rollback and slidable relatively thereto, an inner spindle portion keyed to said inner rollback and slidable relatively thereto, a knob on each of said spindle portions, a push piece for locking the outer rollback, said rollbacks being formed to define a space therebetween contributing a relatively large range of longitudinal adjustment for the spindle portions relatively to the rollbacks while leaving each rollback and its spindle portion free to rotate relatively to the other rollback and its spindle portion in all adjusted positions of said spindle portions, a push button on one of said knobs for actuating the push piece, a stern through which said push button is adapted to move the push piece, a lock cylinder on the other of said knobs for actuating the push piece, a stern through which said lock cylinder is adapted to move the push piece, and means mounting each stem for axial movement relatively to one spindle portion when the spindle portion is in any position to which it is adjusted relatively to the rollbacks whereby to enable said lock cylinder and said push button to actuate the push piece when the lock is installed in doors of difierent thicknesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,434 Ellingson Apr. 22, 1930 1,796,727 Schlage Mar. 17, 1931 1,811,265 Flynn June 23, 1931 1,876,885 Ellingson Sept. 13, 1932 1,899,418 Jacobi Feb. 28, 1933 1,991,031 Schlage Feb. 12, 1935 2,038,907 Schlage Apr. 28, 1936 2,076,125 Grimsrud Apr. 6, 1937 2,263,477 Voight Nov. 18, 1941 2,268,974 Voight Ian. 6, 1942 2,282,213 Rolph May 5, 1942 2,344,484 Ledin et al Mar. 14, 1944 2,431,814 Lickteig Dec. 2, 1947 2,497,750 Wardwell Feb. 14, 1950 2,593,573 Kulbersh Apr. 22, 1952 

